Most people have zero sense of what 21st century archaeology actually is, and we need to share what it is wherever people are
To really think that a multiphase site "isn't complicated" is absurd
/1
To really think that a multiphase site "isn't complicated" is absurd
/1
Look closely at the posted photo
Let's zoom in on a few architectural details that show its complexity
And importantly, we aren't seeing artifacts or soil. That's a huge problem with amateur digs. Understanding excavation is more than just the most impressive thing found
/2
Let's zoom in on a few architectural details that show its complexity
And importantly, we aren't seeing artifacts or soil. That's a huge problem with amateur digs. Understanding excavation is more than just the most impressive thing found
/2
Ok, the OP has said it is "A defense tower built into a wall with a balcony"
And this 100% wrong explanation ignores the fact that what you find in an archaeological excavation can be from different times
/3
And this 100% wrong explanation ignores the fact that what you find in an archaeological excavation can be from different times
/3
Seriously... Do you think someone built a defensive tower into a wall?
Why remove half the stone blocks from a wall to put a defensive tower just a little bit in it?
No, any archaeologist would tell you that we are seeing different phases of construction here
/4
Why remove half the stone blocks from a wall to put a defensive tower just a little bit in it?
No, any archaeologist would tell you that we are seeing different phases of construction here
/4
The reality is there is a very complex scene here. What looks like one construction is multiple, yet the only clue for how space was used during different phases is the statue placed on a brick pavement (which might be the earliest phase represented?)
/5
/5
All the less impressive looking things might have told us more about life in these different spaces in different phases of occupation
Was it a defensive tower or a storage silo? Whose defensive tower?
Well..the kinds of trash from different periods could have told us more
6
Was it a defensive tower or a storage silo? Whose defensive tower?
Well..the kinds of trash from different periods could have told us more
6
Finally, to think that what professional archaeologists do "isn't complicated" is offensive
We pay attention to the details and apply modern methods to understand the past
We have standards in how we record what we find and where we find it
/7
We pay attention to the details and apply modern methods to understand the past
We have standards in how we record what we find and where we find it
/7
These things fucking matter. Whether this is a defensive tower built into a wall or a storage structure that was built over later or a multiphased excavation unit matters!
(it's definitely a multiphased excavation unit with complex stratigraphy and architectural phasing)
/8
(it's definitely a multiphased excavation unit with complex stratigraphy and architectural phasing)
/8
And I want to emphasize: I believe archaeology is for everyone
For sharing with everyone. But not just anyone should go and dig stuff. In fact, if you aren't an archaeologist, don't dig a complicated site just cause it seems cool...
/9
For sharing with everyone. But not just anyone should go and dig stuff. In fact, if you aren't an archaeologist, don't dig a complicated site just cause it seems cool...
/9
Archaeology is a finite resource
If we dig it all, we can't improve our understanding of the past.
We never dig a whole site. Ancient Athens or Pompeii have much still underground. We know future archaeologists will have new methods. We leave more for future investigation
/10
If we dig it all, we can't improve our understanding of the past.
We never dig a whole site. Ancient Athens or Pompeii have much still underground. We know future archaeologists will have new methods. We leave more for future investigation
/10
So yeah, if you aren't an archaeologist, please don't dig up a complex multiphased site...
The leaps in logic:
1) it isn't that hard, I can do research myself
2) oh, it is that hard. But because the world is shit, I can do whatever I want because nothing matters
3) abstract art also sucks
Who are these people???
1) it isn't that hard, I can do research myself
2) oh, it is that hard. But because the world is shit, I can do whatever I want because nothing matters
3) abstract art also sucks
Who are these people???
And for those new to some of these concepts in archaeology, I've got a fun thread on why archaeological #context matters
https://twitter.com/FlintDibble/status/1163435944642588673?t=PRtMKQoxAZn7-bE5Np8r6g&s=19
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